第81章

Weare，therefore，sofarfromattemptingtotracethedullprogressofMessrs。ClippurseandHookem，orthatoftheirworthyofficialbrethren，whohadthechargeofsuingoutthepardonsofEdwardWaverleyandhisintendedfather-in-law，thatwecanbuttouchuponmattersmoreattractive。Themutualepistles，forexample，whichwereexchangedbetweenSirEverardandtheBaronuponthisoccasion，thoughmatchlessspecimensofeloquenceintheirway，mustbeconsignedtomercilessoblivion。NorcanItellyouatlength，howworthyAuntRachel，notwithoutadelicateandaffectionateallusiontothecircumstanceswhichhadtransferredRose’smaternaldiamondstothehandsofDonaldBeanLean，stockedhercasketwithasetofjewelsthataduchessmighthaveenvied。Moreover，thereaderwillhavethegoodnesstoimaginethatJobHoughtonandhisdameweresuitablyprovidedfor，althoughtheycouldneverbepersuadedthattheirsonfellotherwisethanfightingbytheyoungsquire’sside；sothatAlick，who，asaloveroftruth，hadmademanyneedlessattemptstoexpoundtherealcircumstancestothem，wasfinallyorderedtosaynotawordmoreuponthesubject。Heindemnifiedhimself，however，bytheliberalallowanceofdesperatebattles，grislyexecutions，andraw-headandbloody-bonestories，withwhichheastonishedtheservants’hall。

Butalthoughtheseimportantmattersmaybebrieflytoldinnarrative，likeanewspaperreportofaChancerysuit，yet，withalltheurgencywhichWaverleycoulduse，therealtimewhichthelawproceedingsoccupied，joinedtothedelayoccasionedbythemodeoftravellingatthatperiod，rendereditconsiderablymorethantwomonthsereWaverley，havingleftEngland，alightedoncemoreatthemansionoftheLairdofDuchrantoclaimthehandofhisplightedbride。

Thedayofhismarriagewasfixedforthesixthafterhisarrival。TheBaronofBradwardine，withwhombridals，christenings，andfunerals，werefestivalsofhighandsolemnimport，feltalittlehurt，that，includingthefamilyoftheDuchran，andalltheimmediatevicinitywhohadtitletobepresentonsuchanoccasion，therecouldnotbeabovethirtypersonscollected。Whenhewasmarried，’’heobserved，threehundredhorseofgentlemenborn，besidesservants，andsomescoreortwoofHighlandlairds，whonevergotonhorseback，werepresentontheoccasion。’’

Buthispridefoundsomeconsolationinreflecting，thatheandhisson-in-lawhavingbeensolatelyinarmsagainstGovernment，itmightgivematterofreasonablefearandoffencetotherulingpowers，iftheyweretocollecttogetherthekith，kin，andalliesoftheirhouses，arrayedineffeirofwar，aswastheancientcustomofScotlandontheseoccasions-And，withoutdubitation，’’

heconcludedwithasigh，manyofthosewhowouldhaverejoicedmostfreelyuponthesejoyfulespousals，areeithergonetoabetterplace，orarenowexilesfromtheirnativeland。’’

Themarriagetookplaceontheappointedday。TheReverendMr。Rubrick，kinsmantotheproprietorofthehospitablemansionwhereitwassolemnised，andchaplaintotheBaronofBradwardine，hadthesatisfactiontounitetheirhands；andFrankStanleyactedasbridesman，havingjoinedEdwardwiththatviewsoonafterhisarrival。LadyEmilyandColonelTalbothadproposedbeingpresent；butLadyEmily’shealth，whenthedayapproached，wasfoundinadequatetothejourney。Inamends，itwasarrangedthatEdwardWaverleyandhislady，who，withtheBaron，proposedanimmediatejourneytoWaverley-Honour，should，intheirway，spendafewdaysatanestatewhichColonelTalbothadbeentemptedtopurchaseinScotlandasaverygreatbargain，andatwhichheproposedtoresideforsometime。

Thisisnomineainhouse，Ikenbythebiggingo’t-OldSong。

Thenuptialpartytravelledingreatstyle。Therewasacoachandsixafterthenewestpattern，whichSirEverardhadpresentedtohisnephew，thatdazzledwithitssplendourtheeyesofonehalfofScotland；therewasthefamilycoachofMr。Rubrickboththesewerecrowdedwithladies，andthereweregentlemenonhorseback，withtheirservants，tothenumberofaroundscore。Nevertheless，withouthavingthefearoffaminebeforehiseyes，BailieMacwheeblemetthemintheroadtoentreatthattheywouldpassbyhishouseatLittleVeolan。TheBaronstared，andsaidhisson